HOW DO YOU SPOT A PHONY?
1 John 4:1-6
How do you tell the difference between the real thing and a counterfeit?
Secret Service Counterfeit Division–begins training by study of what the real thing looks like.
Professor Agassiz’ training–3 days of studying one dead fish => 8 mos. of watching his friends!
–to learn by observation all that we can possibly learn about it.
That’s the basis of recognizing false doctrine.
To recognize false doctrine when we see it, we must know what sound doctrine looks like!
GOD’S HOLINESS 1:5-3:10
God is holy. 1:5
To enjoy fellowship with a holy God, we must be holy! 1:6-3:10
GOD’S LOVE 3:11-5:10
SUMMARY 3:11
CONTRAST BETWEEN THE WORLD AND GOD’S CHILDREN 3:12-4:6
Hatred by the world 3:12-13
It shouldn’t surprise us that the world doesn’t love God’s children.
They hated Jesus; they will hate us too!
Love among brethren 3:14-24
One of the clearest evidences that we walk with God is love for God’s children. 14
Christ loved us and demonstrated it by his death. 16
We ought to love one another and demonstrate it by our actions. 16-18
Results of the demonstration of love 19-24
Certainty of salvation 19-21
Effective prayer 22-23
Fellowship with God 24
Response to the truth 4:1-6
Parenthetical observation points out that another aspect of the contrast between the world and the church is seen in their response to the truth.
God’s children listen to God’s voice John 10:4
John concludes previous thought: when we abide in Christ and enjoy fellowship with Him, the Holy Spirit affirms our relationship with Him.
His Spirit resonates with ours, giving us confidence we’re God’s children. Rom. 8:15-16
“Speaking of which, don’t go along with just any old ‘spirit.’”
Check it out!
Be sure you’re listening to the right spirit!
Mormons tell you to follow “the burning in your bosom.”
Do you feel good about what you believe?
But a “burning in your bosom” could just be indigestion!
Just because we feel good about what we believe, doesn’t mean we’re following the Spirit.
Check it out!
Be sure you’re listening to GOD’s Spirit!
How can we be sure?
The message of truth 1-3
The evidence of spirits can deceive people.
Supernatural power may deceive people.Check it out!
Negative command: Stop trusting every spirit who comes along.
Post modern thought insists that everyone’s view is equally valid.
“There’s no such thing as absolute truth!”
Interview: “People interpret the Bible however they want to!”
“Everyone has a right to their own opinion.”
John (God’s Word) insists that God has spoken.
When God speaks, He tells the truth.
We’d better find out what God says!
You can know if God agrees with a speaker’s opinion.
Don’t accept everything you hear!
Even supernatural displays of power aren’t the key indicator of truth!
Positive command: Test the spirits to see if they’re from God.
Not what it appears.
Anyone can affirm: “Jesus Christ was born as a man.”
If the spirit acknowledges Jesus as God’s anointed One, Who has come in the flesh, it is from God.
To acknowledge Jesus for Jewish people was to acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah => God –Ps. 24:7-10)
John acknowledges in His gospel (John 1:14) that the Word, Who is God, “became flesh and dwelt among us!”
Christ has come in the flesh!
Paul affirms the same: “In Him the totality of all that God is dwelt in bodily form.”
Col. 2:9 He became flesh and dwelt among us!
If the spirit doesn’t acknowledge His divine origin,
it isn’t from God, no matter how convincing it may appear!
It isn’t enough just to say He was a good man.
Did you notice how many on the video want to say that?!!
C. S. Lewis pointed out Jesus is either LIAR, or LUNATIC or LORD. There is no other option!
Who does the Spirit say He is?
If he doesn’t acknowledge Him as Lord, it’s not God’s Spirit
Paul points out that the Holy Spirit brings us to the conclusion that Jesus is Lord (1 Cor. 12:3)
Reason for the commands:
Many false prophets have gone out into the world.
There ARE true and false prophets.
You CAN tell the difference!
How can you tell the difference?
The best test to determine if God’s Spirit is guiding a teacher:
What does he say about Jesus?
If they don’t acknowledge Him–if they don’t affirm the truth about Jesus, they’re not from God. Period!
It doesn’t matter how convincing the supernatural display may appear!
Don’t pursue the power!
Although God’s message is superior to the world’s message, those who belong to the world will never receive it (5-6).
Our superiority 4
We won’t be overcome by the evil one and his children.
The One Who is in us is greater than the one in them.
Predetermined responses 5-6
Only God’s children accept God’s truth. 1 Cor. 2:10-15; 12:3
The world’s children want to hear the world’s ideas.
The world doesn’t want to know the truth.
They are not interested in hearing the truth.
God’s children listen to God’s voice. John 10:4
This is true both individually and corporately.
God's children, as individuals, want to listen to God's voice.
God's people corporately, His church, wants to listen to God's voice.
The world doesn't want to listen to Him!
They recognize it when they hear it and receive it gladly.
God’s people listen to God’s spokesmen.
The world’s children
don’t want to listen to God’s spokesmen.
We can tell whether we are God’s children and in fellowship with Him by our response to His Word.
His children want to hear their Father’s voice.
Those who are in fellowship with Him recognize His voice when they hear it.
The other side of that equation is also true, . . .
One way to identify the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood:
Who’s listening to the voice?
You can tell the children of God
by the voice they listen to.
You can also tell where a spirit comes from
by taking note of the listeners.
If the world likes what the speaker says,
he isn’t from God.
If God’s children are paying attention,
the speaker is God’s representative.
Just because a Christian friend, or some group of Christians, likes what he hears, doesn’t mean it’s right.
Watch the body of Christ.
If the body of Christ acknowledges the truth,
that ought to serve as an indicator that God is speaking.
HOW SHOULD WE APPLY THIS PRINCIPLE IN OUR LIVES?
What difference should this make in our lives this week?
What should WE do about it?
So how does this work out in practice
in a world where deception is common?
Test #1
Does the voice affirm the truth as revealed in God’s Word?
Did you notice in the video clip how some of those interviewed didn’t accept His Word?
It doesn’t matter how many go along with it, if it contradicts God’s Word, it isn’t from Him!
Test #2
Who is listening to the voice?
Watch the body of Christ!
When godly, discerning leaders agree that God is speaking,
pay attention to what they’re saying.
HOW SHOULD WE APPLY THESE TESTS IN OUR LIVES TODAY?
Don’t just blindly accept the word of any dynamic preacher you hear.
Check it out! Listen with discernment!
Does the message agree with God’s Word?
Is it a message that appeals to the world?
Does it make man the center? You can make it on your own?
Does it affirm many ways to God?
Or does it affirm that Jesus is THE way, the truth and the life?
–that no one comes to the Father, except by trusting Him?
What does the speaker say about Jesus?
Does he acknowledge the divine origin of Christ?
Does his message depend on our efforts or on what Christ has already done for us?